Al Markhiya face Al Shamal in their postponed match from Week 9 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the  Qatar SC Stadium on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The kick-off is at 21:45.

It is a crucial clash and both teams will take to the field with a fierce aim of scoring a win for the three valuable points. While Al Shamal are eager to steer clear of the relegation zone, Al Markhiya would not want to move into the danger zone.

Al Markhiya are currently in eighth place with 18 points and Al Shamal 10th with 17 points.

Both teams are licking their wounds from the defeats they faced in the previous round. Al Shamal lost to Al Wakrah 1-5 and therefore their coach Wesam Rizik has a tough task on hand in ensuring that the side makes up with a positive result over Al Markhiya.

Rizik also realizes that any further loss will make it difficult for the team's mission and involve them in difficult calculations, given the small difference in points between the teams that are battling at the bottom rungs of standings.

Al Shamal rely on some of their distinguished players, the most prominent being midfielder Amjad Attwan, along with Mohammed El Sayed, Majed Mohammed, Yacine Bammou and Ali Olwan.

Al Markhiya, who were edged 3-2 by Umm Salal in the last round, have shown good form, but they will need to compensate for the loss. Their new coach Hicham Jadrane will want his players to come up with a better performance because only a victory would assure Al Markhiya of staying away from a difficult scenario of the relegation zone.

The Al Markhiya coach relies on his players Ayoub Assal, Driss Fettouhi, Ali Nasser Al Marri, Jameel Al Yahmadi and goalkeeper Louay Ashour among others.

Both teams are equally balanced adding to the difficulty and excitement of the contest.